Self-feeding attachment for furnaces



July 2, 1929.

F. c. BROWN SELF FEEDING ATTACHMENT FOR FURNACES 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 10, 1925 ATTORNEY July 2, 1929. F. c. BROWN SELF FEEDING ATTACHMENT FOR F URNACES Filed Oct. 10, 1925 s'sneets-shee't 2 INVENTOR I BY 4% a Ai-ToRNEY July 2, 1929. F. c. BROWN 'YSELF FEEDING ATTACHMENT FOR FURNACES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 10, 1925 firm/M C 6km.

INVENTOR Eizzztjaw I BY ATI'ORN EY Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES FIRMIN CHARLES BROWN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SELF-FEEDING ATTACHMENT FOR FURNACES.

Application filed. October 10, 1925.

This invention relates to feeding devices for furnaces and more particularly to what I term a self-feeding attachment for furnaces.

One ofthemain objects of the invention is to provide a device of simple and inexpensivc construction and operation which may be used in connection with a furnace of standard construction, such as the ordinary domestic heating furnace, for continuously supplyilig fuel thereto. A further object is to provide a device of this character having means associated therewith for increasing the rate of feed of fuel when desired. Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

F 1 is a side view of the attachment as applied.

Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section through the attachment as applied.

Fig. 3 is an outer face view of the attachment.

Fig. 1 is a section taken substantially on the line l-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

The device is intended to be used in connection with a furnace F of known construction provided with a fire door opening The attachment includes a hopper 1 the upper end of which is ordinarily closed by a flanged cover 2. This hopper is provided withbearing brackets 3 secured thereto and carrying tub shafts 4 upon which mounted grooved wheels 5 which travel on rails 6 of a track carried by a supporting structure 7, adjacent floor-structure 8 of the house or building. The hopper is thus mounted to travel upon a track way toward and away from the furnace F, the end of the structure 7 remote from the furnace being preferably positioned adjacent a bin or other storage space for coal. By removing the cover 2 the coal or other fuel can be easily shovelled into the hopper 1 for filling the same, after which the cover is replaced and the hopper is moved into its operative position adjacent furnace T. An inclined chute 9 extends from the lower end of hopper 1 and is provided, adjacent its lower end, with an outer perimetrical flange 10, to which is secured an outer perimetrical flange 11 of a nozzle 12 forming a continuation of chute 9 and extending through the door opening f of the furnace. Flange 11 is of such size as to fit snugly Serial No. 61,743.

against the door frame and effectually close the door opening about nozzle 12. A gate 13 consisting of a head 14 and a plurality of parallel rods 15 extending through openings through top wall 9 of chute 9 prevents discharge of coal or other fuel from the lower end of the hopper when filling the same. By using this gate the flow of fuel from the hopper may be regulated to some extent.

T-connections 16 are secured on the ends of ahorizontal cross bar 17 which is secured in the upper end of a strap member 18 secured to the under or lower wall 9" of chute 9. Two tubular guide members 19 are secured in the T-connections 16 and extend inwardly along the bottom wall 9 of chute 9. These guide members slidably receive agitator bars 20 which are for-med of two sections connected by means of collars 21, these bars being provided on their inner ends with caps 22. At their outer end the bars 20 are secured in T-members 23 which are secured on the ends of the cross bar 24 about the central portion of which is passed a clamp 25- to which is secured a chain 26, this chain being led around a guide pulley 27 mounted in a rectangular connecting member 28 to which are secured supporting and brace-members 29 and 30 extending from the hopper and the chute. The chain 26 can be led to any suitable position in the house so as to be readily operated withoutnecessitating a trip to the cellar. The bars 20 are normally held in their inner position by means of weights 31 secured on chains 32 which pass over pulleys 33 mounted in brackets 341 secured to the sides of the chute 9, these chains being secured to the outer ends of bars which are secured in T-connections 28.

In using the attachment, after it has been loaded with coal, it is moved along the structure 7 into such position that nozzle 12 projects through the door opening 7 of the furnace F, as illustrated in Figure 1. The gate 13 may then be raised so as to permit free flow of the fuel downwardly through chute 9 and nozzle 12 into the furnace. As the fuel in the furnace F and the fire bed sinks, new fuel will flow into the furnace from the hopper, the supply of fuel in the furnace being automatically replenished in accordance with the rate at which the fuel is consumed within the furnace. If it is desired to increase the flow of fuel to the furnace at any time this may be readily done the furnace. As will be noted more clearly from Figure 2, the caps at the inner ends of the bars extend to the end of thenozzle 12, when the bars are in their innermost position, so that these bars also serve to push the fuel back into the furnace over the tire bed.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a hopper including a removable cover, a discharge chute communicating with the lower end of said hopper and connected thereto and terminating in a discharge nozzle, a gate member mounted in said chute comprising a plurality of parallel bars extended across said chute, means for raising said gate member, an agitating means extended along the bottom wall of said chute between the bars of said gate member, and means for operating said agitating means.

, 2. In a device of the class described, a hopper, a removable cover for said hopper, means for supporting said hopper for movement along a trackway, a discharge chute leading from the lower end of said hopper, a gate member in said chute for controlling passage therethrough, said gate member comprising a plurality of spaced apart ment along a trackway, a discharge chute leading from the lower end. of said hopper, a gate member in said chute for controlling passage therethrough, said gate member comprising a plurality of spaced apart parallel bars, a cross-bar, tubular guide members connected to said cross-bar and extending into said chute along the lower edge thereof, agitator bars having end portions thereof disposed in said tubular guide members, a crank connected to said cross-bar, a chain connected to said crank for imparting movement to said crank whereby said crossbar may be moved so as to move said agitator bars, said agitator bars having sleeves provided therein in the extent thereof and caps at the free end thereof, chains connected to said cross-bar, guiding ehute mounted on the side of said chute, said last named chains being directed around said sheaves, weights at the 'free end of said chains for uring said cross-bar and said agitator bars in one direction, said first named chain member moving said agitator bars in 'the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I atllix my signature.

FIRMIN CHARLES BROIVN. 

